Glass by glass and book by book, InWineTruth started as my journal of discovery towards becoming a Certified Wine Educator with the national Society of Wine Educators. Now a Wine Educator, exploring the world of wine continues; searching out the quality that is found in great values and great wine experiences.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

BRAMBLES: Thankfully, Celebrate Something!

Bruno Occhipinti sharing a Marco de Bartoli Marsala

It is routine to look back at the end of the calendar year, something like looking into your car's rear view mirror on the highway. There you can clearly see what has transpired in the recent past, and as we get older the recent past may be all we can easily remember. As it has evolved, the year 2016 had many twists and turns, disappointments and regret, enchanting episodes of magic that foil against heartache. But, if you are reading this, you have made it this far, and we have all that tempered experience to build upon. It is fortunately that end of year wine time to thankfully raise a glass of cheer and celebrate something!

Beautiful Sonoma County agri-business.

Thankful for a memorable wine tasting in Sicily with the veritable patriarch of the Occhipinti cantina in Sicily's only DOCG.

Following a short-supply 2015 grape harvest, this year saw many premium local grape growers able to charge more for their quality fruit in a year of premium quality. North Coast spot markets increased significantly, according to our Allied Grape Growers cooperative.

My Mom got to embrace a new grandson, and then visit with a few of her favorite major league ballplayers in the stadium clubhouse.

Direct to consumer wine sales continue to grow, according to Beverage Dynamics, up 8.1% over 2015, as more Prohibitionist states relax regulations and more consumers find confident selection, quality on-line.

At home, our best Thompson Seedless grape harvest ever, and then drying to wonderfully sweet raisins.

With thanks to our premium grape farmers, there is more than twice as much quality Pinot Noir crushed around here compared to just 10 years ago.

U.S. wine consumption is at an all time high(more than 750 million gallons), as new wine lovers(mostly women) increasingly come to the table(or bar, or bottle).

Thankfully, I can still stand and share the delicious mysteries of wine with friends, old & new, and on occasions find a nectar that authentically inspires.

Looking back in the mirror that is 2016, we see many things that are a reflection of who we are as a culture and as people, yet our history is not yet written for our future. Certainly, here then is our opportunity to raise a glass, and to celebrate something! Cheers!"what matters is the countless small deeds of unknown people, who lay the basis for the significant events that enter history". Howard ZinnWine Links:
http://www.agricolaocchipinti.it/en/
http://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/pressroom/10192016
http://beveragedynamics.com/2016/01/26/9-trends-driving-wine-sales-in-2016/
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?content=175163&section=news

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About Me

In the 70's & 80's I retailed wine in community stores, and much of the following decades managed various departments of import business operations. Over the last decade plus I have presented wines in a broad range of winery tasting rooms, and charted a course of independent study and professional certifications, always with the goal of offering wine education that creates a richer value for consumers by being wine informed.